Invitation to the consultation
For arboRise it is essential to understand the local impact of our reforestation activities. This is why we regularly carry out field surveys (example 1, example 2, example 3). As the Gold Standard carbon certification process shares this concern, we organised a very broad stakeholder consultation in February 2023. This consultation aims to
- Inform about the details of the project and receive feedback from anyone potentially affected by the project
- Exchange views and concerns in a free and transparent manner
- Discuss the benefits, impacts and risks of the project
- Establish a mechanism for ongoing communication and conflict resolution
- Create the basis for close and sustainable collaboration
ArboRise and its partners South Pole and GUIDRE identified the following stakeholders:
- The 250 seed families and 250 land families of the 26 villages participating in the first reforestation cycle
- The authorities and the entire population of the 26 villages, and the members of the Community Management Committee created in each village
- Prefectural authorities (Prefect, Secretary General, Prefectural Director of the Environment, Head of the Water and Forests section, Head of the OGUIB branch)
- Sub-prefectural authorities (Sub-prefect, Mayor of the Linko Rural Commune, Vice-Mayors, Secretary General, District President, Imam of Linko, Sotikomo of Linko, Chief of the Linko Forestry Unit)
- The national authorities of the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Minister, Advisor in charge of sustainable development, Guinea National Designated Authority – Green Climate Fund, National Director of Water and Forests (DNEF), Head of Land Use Planning, DNEF)
- Employees of our partner GUIDRE
- Experts and consultancies: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), WWF, FairTrade Africa, Biotope Guinée
To enable all interested people to participate, more than 700 personalised invitation letters were sent out 30 days before the start of the consultation, with essential logistical support from our partner GUIDRE. To include illiterate people as well, the invitation was broadcast on the local radio in Kérouané for five days in the morning and evening.
In order for each guest to be prepared, the invitation contained
- a description of the project
- the Sustainable Development Goals targeted by the project
- SDG 4: Quality education
- SDG 8: Decent work
- SDG 13: Climate action
- SDG 15: Life on earth (biodiversity)
- all potential risks of the project according to the Gold Standard principles, as well as the measures planned to mitigate each specific risk:
- Principle 1. Human rights
- Principle 2. Equality between men and women
- Principle 3. Health, safety and working conditions of the community
- Principle 4.1 Cultural and historical heritage sites
- Principle 4.2. Forced evictions and displacement
- Principle 4.3 Land tenure and other rights
- Principle 4.4 Indigenous Peoples
- Principle 5. Corruption
- Principle 6.1 Labour rights
- Principle 6.2 Negative Economic Consequences
- Principle 7.1 Emissions
- Principle 7.2 Energy supply
- Principle 8.1 Impact on natural water patterns/flows
- Principle 8.2 Erosion and/or instability of water bodies
- Principle 9.1 Landscape and Soil Modification
- Principle 9.10 Areas of High Conservation Value and Critical Habitats
- Principle 9.11 Endangered Species
- Principle 9.2 Vulnerability to natural disasters
- Principle 9.3 Genetic Resources
- Principle 9.4 Discharge of Pollutants
- Principle 9.5 Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste
- Principle 9.6 Pesticides and fertilizers
- Principle 9.7 Harvesting of forests
- Principle 9.8 Food
Principle 9.9 Livestock
The correct receipt of invitations was confirmed by tallying:
